Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward Global Biodiversity Targets

Aichi, ANAAE, Catalonia, Ontario, Quebec and Sao Paulo have launched a new initiative called "Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward Aichi Biodiversity Targets" to contribute to reaching the Aichi Targets.GoLS has now changed its name to "Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward Global Biodiversity Targets" and will continue to contribute to the achievement of the new global targets, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
We will enhance our own activities through sharing opinions on our measures and we will also promote actions of subnational governments for biodiversity by inviting them to our discussions and sharing lessons learned.

The Statement by the Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward Global Biodiversity Targets

 For the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, it is necessary to "implement" measures in a regional, subnational and local context as well as to urgently bring about "transformative change" across the sectors. In this regard, the role of subnational governments at the core in these respective jurisdictions will become even more important.

 To this end, we take COP15 Part 2 as an opportunity to reiterate our strong commitment, and to continue to fulfill our responsibilities to achieve the new global biodiversity targets in light of GoLS' activities and the updated Plan of Action:

 1. In each jurisdiction, we will foster the implementation of practical measures that contribute to the new global biodiversity targets and national and/or subnational strategies based on subnational characteristics and competencies. In addition, we will promote the whole-of-society approach by encouraging the wider participation of various actors and their horizontal collaboration in the field, while fostering vertical integration among all levels of government, including national, subnational, and local governments.

 2. In the international community, we will share our effective on-site experiences and practical solutions widely through international platforms such as RegionsWithNature and CitiesWithNature. 　　　　　　　　　　　

 3. As a group of leading subnational governments, we will continue to evolve as pioneers in implementation and advocacy to spark "transformative change" in light of the updated Plan of Action by further enhancing respective initiatives through deepening mutual exchange and collaboration between members.

December 2022

^ANNEXMajor Efforts of the Members to Conserve Biodiversity

Aichi Prefecture reformulated the "Aichi Biodiversity Strategy 2030" in February 2021. The strategy sets the "Aichi Method 2030" as the core policy to accelerate efforts to realize the 2050 vision of "Aichi : Living in Harmony with Nature" through cooperation among more and more stakeholders. Based on this, Aichi Prefecture is promoting initiatives.

The National Association of State’s Environment Authorities and its subnational states members work towards creating strategic alliances, cooperation and exchange of experiences between Government and Civil Society, that promotes the exercise of environment governance, as the seminal point from which we can create public policies that contribute to halt the degradation and loss of biodiversity, to ensure and protect ecosystems, the responsible use of our natural wealth and the fair distribution of environmental services, complying with the Aichi goals.

Catalonia has successfully met Aichi Target 11, having more than 30% of its land under protection, and doing major progress in other targets referred to mainstreaming biodiversity across society (Target 1), integrating it in land planning processes (Target 2), fostering habitat restoration projects (Target 15) or enhancing knowledge on it (Target 19) .Our governmental action has been merged with biodiversity protection during decades and our BSAP ?currently being worked on- is to be the long-term governmental roadmap for biodiversity conservation

The Ontario Biodiversity Council is a cross-sectoral body involving 34 organizations that guides implementation of Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy and reports to the public on progress. Ontario’s strategy includes 15-time bound targets and aligns with the CBD Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets. To assess progress on targets and provide a status on biodiversity, Council produces a State of Ontario’s Biodiversity report on a 5-year cycle using 45 indicators. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry provides secretariat support to Council and leads government efforts under Biodiversity: It’s In Our Nature, Ontario Government Plan to Conserve Biodiversity 2012-2020. This government plan adopts the visions and goals of the strategy and guides actions across 15 government ministries.

Quebec adopted two Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans during 1990s and 2000s, which were followed by the adoption of the Government Biological Diversity Guidelines in 2013. Those Guidelines represent an initial response to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and set out seven guidelines to ensure that biodiversity is taken into account and incorporated into planning and implementation of actions undertaken by government ministries and organizations. In particular, Quebec has made ambitious commitments within two major governmental Strategies (the Plan Nord and the Maritime Strategy) to reach the Aichi Target 11 and protect, by 2020, 17% of its landmass and freshwater areas and 10% of its maritime zones.

The State of Sao Paulo has had a strong presence in the biodiversity discussions since 1986, when the State Secretariat for the Environment was created. In 2011, the Sao Paulo Biodiversity Commission was established, approving the "Sao Paulo Action Plan 2011-2020“ towards the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and, specifically, its Aichi Targets. Today, some of our main action fronts comprehend comprise enhancing the management of conservation units, increasing inspection to prevent illegal actions against the environment and developing an economic and environmental zoning to permit a truly sustainable development of our State.

Campeche is at the beginning of State Biodiversity Strategy implementation; it was officially published since 2015. Campeche is celebrating 40 years of the State Protection and Conservation Program; it is the oldest program in Mexico and Campeche has the record for the highest number of turtles nesting in the country. Campeche signed in COP 13 a regional agreement for sustainability of the Yucatan Peninsula including rainforest effective management, sustainable tourism, water and ecosystems with goals to achieve in 2030 year. Also Campeche has the first ejido(land community) in Campeche certified by Forest Stewardship Council for forest sustainable management.

Taking the opportunity of hosting the CBDCOP12, Gangwon Province developed a “Biodiversity strategy of Gangwon Province” in 2014 and, in collaboration with 18 local authorities, are currently implemented 67 projects included in the strategy. We have made significant progress in improving the status of biodiversity (Target11), such as the extended wetland protection areas since last year.Also, We are pushing ahead with ‘Olympic Winter Games’ which will be held in PyeongChang,Gangwon Province next year under a slogan of “Low Carbon and Green Olympics”. In particular, as a region with the most threatened species in Korea, we are proceeding with various projects to prevent the threatened species (Target12) and to restore ecosystems (Target15).

Jiangsu Province has always attached great attention to biodiversity preservation and started this work early. In June 2014, with the approval of Jiangsu provincial people's government, then Jiangsu Provincial Department of Environmental Protection issued Jiangsu Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity Preservation 2013 2030, which clearly defines its six strategic targets, 20 priority actions and 13 key programs. Jiangsu will align itself with Aichi Biodiv ersity Targets and strive to bring the degradation and loss of biodiversity basically under control by 2022. According to plan, biodiversity preservation will be effectively implemented by 2030.